A young boy embarks on a trip with a stranger to find the legendary Water Man in order to find a cure for his ailing mother.
The Water Man is a touching adventure for the entire family. David Oyelowo succeeds in his directorial debut, but the real star of the film is Lonnie Chavis.
Chavis is Gunner, a boy who finds it difficult to accept that his mother may never get well again after she is diagnosed with Leukemia. When he hears about the tale of the mysterious Water Man (an individual who is said to possess the power of immortality) he enlists the help of a girl named Jo (Amiah Miller) to help him.
Meanwhile, Gunner's father Amos (Oyelowo) finds out his son has disappeared and sets out to find him. The problem is there is a raging wildfire in the woods and the concerned parent must get to his son before all hope is lost.
The film is engaging and poignant, thanks to Oyelowo's directing, Chavis' performance, and a relatable plot. Gunner's strained relationship with his dad is something that is explored well.
The relationship between Chavis and his mother (Rosario Dawson) is the heart of the film and is what fuels his quest for the Water Man. He forms an unlikely alliance with Jo, and the latter ends up being a better person for it.
I didn't like the way the conflict was resolved in the third as one or two things didn't sit well with me. But other than that, this movie succeeds.
Oyelowo has shown that he has what it takes to be a great filmmaker and I look forward to seeing more movies from him.